| To practice massage therapy in most states requires | | | | licensure is required in the state of practice). It is also |
| certification from the National Certification Board for | | | | essential to check with local authorities before setting |
| Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); | | | | up a practice to see if there are any other necessary |
| many states also require certified massage therapists | | | | prerequisites or regulations to be met. For instance, |
| to be licensed. There are hundreds of good accredited | | | | some states require CMTs to take periodic continuing |
| massage therapy schools across the US and Canada | | | | education in massage practices. The administrators |
| that can train you to pass exams for certification in | | | | and instructors at the best massage therapy schools |
| massage therapy. | | | | are often a good resource to help students through |
| When people talk about earning certificates and | | | | this process. |
| diplomas, they do not mean the same thing as gaining | | | | In short, there are few professions that offer such |
| massage therapy certification. It is possible to get | | | | great personal rewards as those of the natural healer; |
| massage therapy certificates after a number of hours | | | | becoming a nationally certified massage therapist is |
| of training in one specific area of massage, but still not | | | | one of the best ways to prove expertise in natural |
| be legally qualified to practice in many states. There | | | | healing. If you would like to find the best training in your |
| are several very deliberate steps required before one | | | | area, select a few schools or colleges from our |
| can become a certified massage therapist (CMT), and | | | | website and contact them today to see if they can |
| almost every state has its own laws and regulations to | | | | help you to qualify for massage therapy certification. |
| follow. | | | | DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and |
| The NCBTMB requires that candidates acquire a | | | | may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and |
| minimum number of 500 hours of training from an | | | | or services associated with ANY ONE particular |
| approved massage school (accredited by the US | | | | school(s) that is or is not advertised on |
| Department of Education or approved by the state of | | | | Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by Media Positive |
| practice); required education must include 125 hours of | | | | Communications, Inc. |
| body systems, anatomy, physiology and kinesiology; | | | | Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an |
| 200 hours of massage and bodywork assessment, | | | | ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its |
| theory and application; 40 hours of pathology; 10 hours | | | | entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links |
| of business and ethics, including at least 6 hours of | | | | remain intact and active. |
| ethics; and 125 hours of additional instruction. The | | | | Author Resource Box: Michael Bustamante is a staff |
| candidate must then pass the NCBTMB exam to | | | | writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find |
| prove competency in practical skills (hands-on) as well | | | | training for Massage Therapy Certification, as well as |
| as knowledge and understanding of professional | | | | Schools, Colleges, Universities, Online Schools, and |
| massage practices. | | | | Vocational Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your |
| Once the candidate has received certification, it is then | | | | resource for higher education. |
| important to secure a massage therapy license (if | | | | |